Reaction jet spray arm for dishwashers having simultaneous rotation about perpendicular axis



Oct. 24, 1967 F. E. LA FLAME 3,348,775 JTANEOUS REACTION JET SPRAY ARM FOR DISHWASHERS HAVING SIMUI.

ROTATION ABOUT PERPENDICULAR AXIS Filed Oct. 22, 1965 INVENTOR. 6'42? 15 [af/ame a &1 [W

A)! ATTORNE United States Patent Delaware Filed Oct. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 501,990 Claims. (Cl. 239-227) This invention is directed to dishwashers and more particularly to an improved rotating spray arm arrangement for distributing fluid therein.

In automatic dishwashers, it is desirable to have a distributing means associated with a washing fluid distributing pump that will produce an extremely random distribution of washing fluid into an article containing washing compartment of the dishwasher without the need for complex mechanical means for reversing the movement of a spray arm or the like.

An object of the present invention, therefore, is to improve dishwashers by the provision of a dual arm spray distributor including rotatable members that are directly in communication with the outlet of a fluid distributing pump means and operable upon receiving fluid from the pump to rotate simultaneously about perpendicular axes to produce an unusually complete spray pattern within an associated washing compartment of a dishwasher.

Yet another object of the present invention is to improve dishwashers including a washing compartment having a lower sump region and a Washing fluid distributing pump for circulating washing fluid from the sump region for distribution into the washing compartment by the provision therein of a dual member rotatable spray assembly including a first fluid reactive member that is rotatable about a vertical axis and a second fluid reactive spray distributing member that is rotatably supported on the first member and rotatable about a horizontal axis during rotation of the first member about the vertical axis to produce a compound rotary spray pattern within the washing compartment of the dishwasher.

Still another object of the present invention is to improve dishwashers of the type including a washing compartment having a lower sump region and a pump for distributing fluid from the sump region for distribution into the washing compartment by the provision of a rotatable tubular spray arm rotatably supported on the sump casing of the dishwasher that includes ports therein for discharging fluid from the pump to cause a reactive force on the member to produce rotation thereof about a first axis and wherein an elongated tubular fluid distributing bar is supported on the tubular spray arm for rotation therewith about the predetermined axis with the tubular bar including a plurality of circumferential ports in communication with the washing pump for producing a reactive force on the tubular bar to cause rotation thereof with respect to another axis during rotation thereof about the first axis to produce a resultant compound rotary spray pattern within the washing compartment.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a dual spray arm arrangement as set forth in the preceding objects wherein means are included to prevent fluid from passing from the elongated tubular spray bar of the assembly directly therefrom into the lower sump region of the dishwasher.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a view in front elevation, partially broken away, of a dishwasher including the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged view in horizontal section taken along the line 22 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is a view in vertical section taken along the line 33 of FIGURE 2.

Referring now to the drawing, in FIGURE 1 a dishwasher 10 is illustrated including an outer casing 12 enclosing a container 14 forming a washing compartment 16. The container 14 has a bottom bulkhead 18 bent downwardly at 20 to form a lower sump region 22 in the washing compartment 16. Within the sump region 22 is located a 'plural pump assembly 24 including a drain pump 26 and a washing fluid distributing pump 28 driven by an electric motor 30. The assembly 24 is supportingly received by the downwardly bent portion of the bottom bulkhead 18 on an annular seal member 32. The illustrated plural pump assembly 24 is merely representative of one suitable arrangement for selectively circulating washing fluid in the washing compartment 16 or for draining fluid from the sump region 22 and discharging it through a drain 34 exteriorly of the outer cabinet 12 of the dishwasher 1 0. One example of such a representative pump arrangement is more specifically set forth in my copending application, Serial No. 341,209, filed January 30, 1964, now Patent No. 3,265,311, wherein details of a typical washing fluid circulating pump and drain pump are set forth with it being understood that the details of these pumps form no part of the present invention but are merely representative of a plural pump assembly suitable for association with the present invention.

The washing fluid circulating pump 28 has a tubular outer casing 36 located within the sump region 22 with an outlet opening 38 therein through which fluid is discharged. In accordance with certain principles of the present invention, pressurized fluid discharged through the outlet end 38 of the casing 36 of the pump 28 is directed into a pressurizable cavity 40 formed by a tubular fluid distributing spray arm 42 that has an opened end 44 thereof secured to and rotatably supported on the upper end of the pump casing 36. The spray arm 42 has the upper end thereof closed at 46 and includes .a plurality of circumferentially located ports 48 therein through which washing fluid from the pressurized cavity 40 is discharged to produce a resultant reactive force on the arm 42 to cause it to rotate about a vertical axis as shown in FIGURE 2.

In addition to the tubular spray arm 42, the plural arm distributing assembly includes an elongated tubular spray bar 50 which is directed through axially aligned openings 52, 54 on opposite sides of the tubular member 42. The elongated tubular spray bar 50 has end caps 56, 58 closing the opposite ends thereof. The portion of the elongated tubular spray bar 50 located within the pressurizable cavity 40 has a plurality of circumferentially located openings 60 therein that communicate the interior 62 of the bar 50 with the pressurizable cavity 40 of the spray arm 42. The interior of the cavity 62 is communicated with a plurality of circumferentially located openings or ports 64 in bar 50 located at spaced apart points along the length of the tubular bar 50 exteriorly of the tubular spray arm 42. As fluid jets pass from ports 64, a resultant reactive force is produced on the elongated tubular spray bar 50 that will cause it to rotate about a horizontal axis defined by the longitudinal axis thereof during rotation of the tubular member 50 with the tubular member 42 about the vertical axis, as previously discussed.

The vertical spray arm 42 further includes radially outwardly directed curved members 66, 68 on either side thereof which underlie the tubular arms 50 throughout the length thereof on either side of the vertical spray arm 42 so as to prevent fluid being discharged from the ports 64 directly into the sump region 24.

By virtue of the illustrated arrangement, when the motor 30 is energized to operate the fluid circulating pump 28, washing fluid is discharged from the outlet end 38 thereof into thepressurizable cavity 40 and the interior 62 of the elongated tubular member or spray bar 50 to produce a simultaneous concurrent rotation of the vertical spray arm bar 50 about a vertical axis during which time the spray bar or elongated tubular member 50 is rotated simultaneously independently of the vertical spray arm 42 about a horizontal axis. Thus, washing fluid that passes through the ports 64 in the spray bar is rotated with respect to articles on a rack 70 within the washing compartment 16 so that the horizontally rotating spray from the bar 50 is continually facing different parts of the washing compartment 16 so that fluid discharged therefrom passes from the top of the Washing compartment 16 to a lower portion of the washing compartment 16 on all sides thereof whereby an unusually random and complete distribution of spray occurs within the washing compartment 16.

Furthermore, the unusually complete spray pattern is accomplished by means of a two-part assembly without requiring complex mechanical means for moving spray arms or the like to produce the random pattern. It will thereby be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the arrangement is economical to build and by virtue of its few parts is unusually dependable and reliable in operation.

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it isto be understood that other forms might be adopted.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In a dishwasher, a washing compartmennmeans including a bottom surface defining a sump region in said washing compartment, fluid distributing pump means in i said sump region including means for drawing fluid from said sump region and for discharging it therefrom, a first rotatable member supported on said pump means including a pressurizable cavity, ports in said first rotatable member for discharging the fluid from said pressurizable cavity to produce a resultant reactive force on said rotatable member to moveit'with respect to said pump means about a first axis, a second tubular member rotatably supported by said first member on an axis perpendicular to said first axis, means for communicating the interior of said tubular rotatable member with said pressurizable cavity of said first rotatable member, said tubular member having ports therein for directing pressurized fluid from said tubular member, said tubular member being subjected to a resultant reactive force upon discharge of fluid through said tubular member ports for causing rotation of said tubular member on said first rotatable member.

2. In a dishwashenthe combination of, a washing compartment, means including a bottom surface defining a sump region in said washing compartment, pumping means in said sump region for drawing fluid from said sump region and discharging it into said washing compartment, said pump means including a tubular casing, a tubular rotatable member having an opened end supportingly received on said pump casing and a closed end, a plurality of circumferentially located ports in said tubular member, a pressurizable chamber in said tubular member communicating with an outlet in said pump casing, said tubular member being rotated about a vertical axis upon discharge of water from said pressurized cavity through said ports, an elongated tubuliar spray bar rotatably supported by said tubular member, means for communicating the interior of said tubular spray bar with said pressurizable cavity, a plurality of circumferentially located ports formed in the length of said tubular spray bar, said tubular spray bar being rotatably driven about a horizontal axis as pressurized fluid is directed from said ports therein.

3. In the combination of claim 2, a radially outwardly directed baffle'on said tubular rotatable member overlying a portion of said tubular spray bar to prevent discharge of fluid therefrom directly downwardly into said sump region.

4. In the combination of claim 2, a support member directed outwardly of either side of said tubular member for supportingly receiving said'spray bar during rotation thereof with respect to said tubular member.

5. In the combination of claim 4, said support members having a semicircular cross section and overlying the bottom half of said rotatable tubular spray bar to prevent discharge of water therefrom directly downwardly into the sump region.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,661,241 12/ 1953 Veneziano 239--227 2,681,250 6/1954 Metcalf 239-227 2,734,520 2/1956 Abrisch et a1 239-225 X 2,766,065 10/ 1956 Joyslen s. 239-227 3,001,534 9/1961 Grant 239-227 3,004,517 10/1961 Reindl 239227 3,051,183 8/1962 Jacobs 239-227 M. HENSON WOOD, JR., Primary Examiner.

VICTOR M. WIGMAN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A DISHWASHER, A WASHING COMPARTMENT, MEANS INCLUDING A BOTTOM SURFACE DEFINING A SUMP REGION IN SAID WASHING COMPARTMENT, FLUID DISTRIBUTING PUMP MEANS IN SAID SUMP REGION INCLUDING MEANS FOR DRAWING FLUID FROM SAID SUMP REGION AND FOR DISCHARGING IT THEREFROM, A FIRST ROTATABLE MEMBER SUPPORTED ON SAID PUMP MEANS INCLUDING A PRESSURIZABLE CAVITY, PORTS IN SAID FIRST ROTATABLE MEMBER FOR DISCHARGING THE FLUID FROM SAID PRESSURIZABLE CAVITY TO PRODUCE A RESULTANT REACTIVE FORCE ON SAID ROTATABLE MEMBER TO MOVE IT WITH RESPECT TO SAID PUMP MEANS ABOUT A FIRST AXIS, A SECOND TUBULAR MEMBER ROTATABLY SUPPORTED BY SAID FIRST MEMBER ON AN AXIS PERPENDICULAR TO SAID FIST AXIS, MEANS FOR COMMUNICATING THE INTERIOR OF SAID TUBULAR ROTATABLE MEMBER WITH SAID PRESSURIZABLE CAVITY OF SAID FIRST ROTATABLE MEMBER, SAID TUBULAR MEMBER HAVING PORTS THEREIN FOR DIRECTING PRESSURIZED FLUID FROM SAID TUBULAR MEMBER, SAID TUBULAR MEMBER BEING SUBJECTED TO A RESULTANT REACTIVE FORCE UPON DISCHARGE OF FLUID THROUGH SAID TUBULAR MEMBER PORTS FOR CAUSING ROTATION OF SAID TUBULAR MEMBER ON SAID FIRST ROTATABLE MEMBER. 